Dreaming of Cambodia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hill

"Phnom" is the Khmer word for "hill". Built on a hill near the Mekong River, Phnom Penh is so named because it was developed from a small monastery which had been built there in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman named Penh. Phnom Penh literally means "Penh's Hill" and became the country's capital about 64 years after the monastery was built.

Answer: Theravada Buddhism

Cambodians, for the most part, are practitioners of Theravada Buddhism. This practice was abandoned during the Khmer Rouge era as they were anti-religion, like other Communist regimes.

Answer: 9th November

Cambodians celebrate their Independence Day on the 9th of November. 10th of October is the Chinese national day, while the 4th of July is America's Independence Day. 31st December is, of course, New Year's Eve.

Answer: True

The Cambodian people remember and pay tribute to their ancestors and deceased family members in a festival known as Pchum Ben. This is celebrated in the 9th lunar month and takes place over the period of 15 days. On the 15th day of the Festival, known as Dak Ben, villages will offer foods and gifts to the monks at their local pagoda.

Another tradition in this period is to built little mountains of sand, which represent the release of sins committed in the previous year. The Festival of the Dead once lasted an entire month, but it was reduced to 15 days as many families were busy with farming.

Answer: All of these

All of the above postures are considered disrespectful and threatening by the Cambodian people. The correct way to stand is to stand with your arms crossed at the waist.

Answer: Red

They use red coloured thread, which is often soaked in holy water. Red is the colour of happiness in many Asian cultures. A Buddhist priest would preside over the ceremony and a candle would be passed around by married guests as a way of blessing the newly wed couple.

Answer: Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap is Cambodia's largest lake, its name meaning "Great Lake" in Khmer. It is also Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and one of the most fish abundant in the world. Thousands of Cambodians make the lake their home, many of them living on boats and who fish for a living. Every year, the lake will reverse direction during the rainy season.

This reversal is celebrated in a three-day festival in either October or November known as the Water Festival.

Answer: Kompong Saom

Kompong Saom is the other name that the city of Sihanoukville is known by. Constructed in the 1950s, it has since become a beach town which attracts a number of tourists every year. Siem Reap is the city closest to the highly popular Angkor Wat temple, Tonle Bati is a city about 30km south of Phnom Penh and Banteay Srei is the name of a thousand year old temple located north of Angkor Wat.

Answer: Riel

The riel is the currency of Cambodia. Baht is found in Thailand, dong is the currency of Vietnam and you'd be expected to pay in won in South Korea.

Answer: Phnom Penh

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are located 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. It is estimated that around 17,000 people were killed here and over 8,000 skulls are on display at the Memorial Stupa built there in 1988. Most of the victims were detained at the Tuol Svay Prey High School prior to their execution.

The Tuol Sleng museum is dedicated to the memory of these victims and to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge era.